1 Peter, 1

1.Peter, apostle of Jesus Christ, to all those living as aliens in the Dispersion of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen,

2.in the foresight of God the Father, to be made holy by the Spirit, obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

3.Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead

4.and into a heritage that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away. It is reserved in heaven for you

5.who are being kept safe by God's power through faith until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the final point of time.

6.This is a great joy to you, even though for a short time yet you must bear all sorts of trials;

7.so that the worth of your faith, more valuable than gold, which is perishable even if it has been tested by fire, may be proved -- to your praise and honour when Jesus Christ is revealed.

8.You have not seen him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him you believe in him and so are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described;

9.and you are sure of the goal of your faith, that is, the salvation of your souls.

10.This salvation was the subject of the search and investigation of the prophets who spoke of the grace you were to receive,

11.searching out the time and circumstances for which the Spirit of Christ, bearing witness in them, was revealing the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow them.

12.It was revealed to them that it was for your sake and not their own that they were acting as servants delivering the message which has now been announced to you by those who preached to you the gospel through the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even the angels long to catch a glimpse of these things.

13.Your minds, then, must be sober and ready for action; put all your hope in the grace brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ.

14.Do not allow yourselves to be shaped by the passions of your old ignorance,

15.but as obedient children, be yourselves holy in all your activity, after the model of the Holy One who calls us,